Weekend delays on Beltway

Traffic on the outer loop in Virginia approaching the Wilson Bridge will be backed up this weekend as workers shift the Capital Beltway lanes outward into a new configuration between the Eisenhower Connector and Telegraph Road.

The delays could stretch four miles, or about to the Springfield Interchange. Detours for local drivers include using the U.S. Route 1 interchange. Long-distance travelers would be better off heading west to the American Legion Bridge to cross the Potomac. It's about the same distance to join up with I-95 north of Washington.

The goal of this weekend work, part of the Wilson Bridge project, is to allow crews room to extend the Thru and Local lane configuration now in place between Route 1 in Virginia and Route 210 in Maryland. The shift is similar to one performed on the inner loop in December.

Weekend schedule
Here's how it will work, but my hope is that you won't get to experience any of it personally.

-- After Friday evening's rush period, the ramp from the Eisenhower Connector to the outer loop will be closed. The right-most lane of the outer loop also will be closed just west of the Connector. The ramps from the outer loop to Telegraph Road and to Huntington Avenue and North Kings Highway will be closed.
-- Later Friday night, the center lane of the outer loop will close, reducing traffic to one lane (the left-most lane).
-- On Saturday morning, traffic will be fully diverted to the right onto two new outer loop lanes. The ramp from the Eisenhower Connector will reopen, as well as the exits from the outer loop to Telegraph Road and to Huntington Avenue/North Kings Highway.
-- On Saturday night, a third new Outer Loop lane will open, allowing for a full three lanes of traffic on the new outer loop roadway.